GENDER, POWER, WOMEN & HIV/AIDS
Lec 1 Jan 20
Who wields power–power is the driving force behind the HIV epidemic; where
power resides the virus recedes, and where it does the virus thrives
Power lies in - adult men white people North Americans straight people
The impact of power
the catastrophic effects of power can be seen worldwide in women and girls where
we see:
- death as relief
- childhood and adolescence robbed
- social ostracism violent abuse
before death they are: raped, sexually emotionally abused forced into sex trade
deprived of children beaten sold into slavery imprisoned disowned
and if they didn’t die they would most likely not receive: education decent paying
job property inheritance rights and reproductive health choices
-in America HIV is the leading cause of death among African women aged 25 to 34
- among aboriginal peoples in Canada women are 48% of new infections
- in Canada a total of 2058 cases and 11,403 HIV cases were reported in adult
women up to December 31, 2009
- according to the Center for infectious disease prevention and control, women
accounted for 9.9% of cumulative AIDS cases in adults up to December 31, 2009
- the proportion of AIDS cases among women-creased from 7% before 1997 to 17%
in 2009
- women representing creasing portion of positive HIV test in Canada 17% in 2009
with women aged 30 to 39 years old accounting for the most substantial proportion
at 54%
we are not powerless
women often portrayed as the victims, vessels and vectors of disease
- on the contrary women have been at the forefront of some of the most creative
innovative and successful initiatives designed to turn the tide of HIV/AIDS epidemic
some examples–
power inaction: microbicides
in 1991 a woman from Uganda stood at an international AIDS per invention
conference and asked this question “if we can put people on the noon why can’t we
make something that women can use to protect themselves against HIV”
the microbicide story: Lor Heise an activits, found Dr. Zena Stein who had been
already calling for a “virucide”- she anda group of women went to work, and tried to
put prevention on the agendas of the UN population Council and the WHO
- the first research funding for an “ Intravaginal Virucide” became available in
1992, and within five years the global campaign for microbicides was launched [ in the international partnership on microbicides has raised over hundred and $70
million from a government to foundations that Bill and Melinda Gates foundation
the Rockefeller foundation the European commission and the World Bank] - that is
power- the power to potentially save 2.5 million lives over three years because one
woman asked one question and determined women took real action
power in action:rebuilding lives impacted by violence
as a result of conflict in Rwanda in 1994 250,000 women were raped as a tactic of
war and genocide, codes to 75% of the Rwandan rape survivors were HIV-positive
and had no access to ARV’s so they decided to do something about it- they contacted
to American women who informed “women’s equity in access to care and
treatment”. Together they helped form a joint public–private partnership under the
national AIDS plan called the “Rwanda women’s treatment access initiative”.
Rwanda women’s treatment access initiative:
provided technical assistance training education and a range of medical services to
women–aimed at building capacities of local NGOs to deliver services and can
recognize poverty nutrition and safety barriers to successful treatment
- implemented a “chicken fund”–which supplied hundreds of women starting area
leaves with a chicken and two roosters asked for proteins and a product that could
be sold to buy food
the results:
women receive training in food production and income generation, program
provides free comprehensive HIV care to more than 4000 people where 45% of
whom are rape survivors, everyone received ARV treatment–more than 90%
adherence rate, three mobile teams in partnership with 24 NGOs provide HIV
testing to 1300 people in a month, national peer education and training program
providing self employment tools for HIV people and . Families
power inaction: microfinance and self empowerment
the economic well-being and self empowerment of women is seen as a means to
reduce violence against women including rape by their intimate partners and this in
turn reduces HIV infection
The IMAGE study:
the interventions and micro-finance for AIDS gender equity study led by Julia
Cameron of the rural aid and development action research program, combined with
a micro-finance poverty alleviation program with participatory gender and HIV
training, microfine and portion handled by the small enterprise foundation, a South
African NGO with more than 30,000 active clients
IMAGE study structure:
minimized the prospect of conflict within households, and advance women’s self
empowerment by creating a learning program called “sisters for life”, it also
included training sessions on gender roles cultural beliefs relationships communication domestic violence and HIV, encouraged broader community
mobilization to encourage both man and youth
IMAGE study results:
Risk of Internet partner violence was reduced by 55% over two years and
participants are able to;
challenged the acceptability of violence, received better treatment from their
partners, leave abusive relationships and raise public awareness about intimate
partner violence.
Benefits also reach to young people at home resulting in greater openness and
communication about sexuality and HIV. Self-confidence was so enhanced that
participants organize
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